Crailar Technologies (GREY:CRLRF)

PORTLAND, OR, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - CRAiLAR Technologies Inc. (TSXV: CL) (OTCQB: CRLRF), which produces and markets CRAiLAR® Flax fiber The Friendliest Fiber On The Planet™, today announced that it has begun the production of CRAiLAR®  Hemp fiber alongside its award winning CRAiLAR®  Flax production in Europe.  CRAiLAR's current customer base will be offered CRAiLAR®  Hemp fiber for immediate availability

"As the expansion and upgrades of CRAiLAR's European facility continue, the opportunity to procure and process hemp fiber using CRAiLAR's patented technologies was at our doorstep", said Ken Barker, CEO of CRAiLAR. "As most of our customers and investors know, our technologies were initially created to process hemp fiber, and it is now in Europe that good quality hemp feedstock is available and ready to produce. This sets up CRAiLAR perfectly for continued production growth here in Europe, and opens the doors to US production, when and where the laws and regulations fully allow for hemp's cultivation and harvest. We've seen a thoroughly positive response to hemp in product categories such as work-wear, home furnishings, industrial and non-woven fabrics. We are by no means changing focus away from our superior flax fibers, rather, expanding our product offer through the means of our newly improved and expanded facility."

Additionally, CRAiLAR announces that Miljenko Horvat has resigned as a director of the company.   Mr. Horvat has been a director since February 2006 and has also served as CRAiLAR's non-executive Chairman of the Board.

"We respect Miljenko's decision but we will miss his continuous flow of ideas and close friendship." said Barker. "We would like to thank Miljenko for his great array of contributions and we appreciate and look forward to his ongoing support."